Sun Tran and Teamsters Local 104 have officially reached a two-year agreement, and union membership ratified the contract on Sunday with a vote of 250 to 76. Acceptance of this new contract ends a seven-day walkout and restores regularly scheduled bus service to the Tucson region on Monday.
Sun Tran GM Katrina Heineking and Teamsters 104 Principal Executive Officer Andy Marshall each expressed appreciation and relief that vital transportation services will return in full service. Heineking and Marshall also extended sincere gratitude to the customers, employees and the general public for their patience during the strike.
Under the terms of the offer, the Teamsters bargaining unit employees will receive no wage increases, but will continue to have their health and welfare costs completely covered over the two-year term. The contract includes new language that requires Sun Tran and union representatives to re-enter negotiations in the event that bargaining unit layoffs become necessary. The Teamsters would have the option of terminating the labor agreement at that point if an alternate agreement cannot be reached within five days.
The cost to the City of Tucson for the increases in health and welfare expenses is approximately $1.2 million over the two-year contract.
Sun Tran is operated by Professional Transit Management Ltd. (PTM) under a contract with the City of Tucson. The Teamsters Local 104 represents approximately 525 employees, including drivers, mechanics, service island attendants and others.